Axle-bearing.



No' 675975' Patented lune Il, |90I. A RIEBE AXLE BEARING.

(N0 Model) (APPh nModDc e 1900) AUGUST RIEBE, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

AXLE-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 675,975, dated June 1 1, 1901. Application tiled December 6,1900. Serial No. 38,909. (No model.)

To all whom it 7mo/,y concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST BIERE, mechanical engineer', a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at 15l Zwinglistrasse, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle-Bearings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention consists of an axle-bearing comprising two or any number of pairs of ball-bearings, whereof cach is inclosed in a separate frame or casing, and which, by means of a tilting beam or lever supported at the weight-receiving point,are maintained in such a relative position to each other as to result in an even distribution of the weight among the ball-bearings and the avoidance of any undue strain on either side. 3y reason of the strains being thus equalized or balanced the balls of each bearing,irrespective of any slight inequalities of size, are all caused to take a substantially equal share in the task of sustaining tlie weight-an object which is not attainable in the case of ordinary ball-bearings with two or uiore sets or tiers of balls.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a section of two ball-bearings adapted, in accordance with this invention, to serve as a substitu te for an ordinary single axle-bearing and held in position by lneans of a transverse bridge-piece or yoke not unlike the beam of a balance. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the ball-bearing arrangement illustrated in Fig. l; and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and (i are respectively a longitudinal section, a crosssection, a side elevation, and an end view ot a modified form of the improved ball-bearing arrangement wherein two bridges or yokes secured tothe cheeks of the bearings on either side are employed as compensating bearingsupports in lieu of a single yoke.

The peculiar' characteristic ot this type of bearing is the provision of a tilting transverse yoke or bridge acting after the manner of the beam or lever ot' a balance and so holding the two ball-bearings in position by externallyengaging with their respective frames or cases as to secure their interdependence. As shown in the drawings, the arrangement consists of not less than two ball-bearings p and q, each of which combines within a casing or frame all the requisite constituent parts of a ballbearing-such, for example, as the two annular ball-races b b. (Shown in Fig. l.) Each ball-bearing case is, independently of the other, mounted upon the axle or shaft a, both being held in position by a transverse yoke or beam r in the manner above stated, and the said beam, in order that it may tilt or swing as required for the purpose of balancing the bilateral strains, receiving adequate support at a point--on the spring suspensionplate, for example-where the weight is taken up. An arrow in Fig. 1 indicates this pressure-receiving point, at which the beam is enabled by knife-edge suspension to perform its tilting or swinging movements. To effect the engagement between it and the ball-bearing cases, the latter are provided with top lugs or ribs l 2, which serve to form the desired knife-edge connection with the grooves in the ends of the beam r, and whereby any axial displacement and any spontaneous rotary motion on the part of the ball-bearings are at the same time obviated. It will be seen that in this arrangement the ball-bearings p q are made capable Within the limits of their possible vertical displacement in relation to each other of exercising a mutual pressure-compensating influence, accommodating themselves to slight differences of size, whether of the balls themselves or of the ballraces, and thus avoiding a preponderance of strain upon either bearing of the pair. Any number of similarly-fitted pairs of bearings may be employed instead ot' one only.

In Figs. 3 to G a modification of the improved ball-bearing arrangement is represented. Instead of one balancing beam or lever placed over the top of the two ball-bearings two such levers Il, and o are here arranged, one on each side of the double bearing, the bearing-cases being to this end provided with arms e' and j, projecting from their lower parts and strengthened by ribs. The beams 1l and r respectively bear upon the pairs of arms t' t" or jj, as the case may be, which are situated on the same side, projecting lugs l 2, as in the arrangement first deloo scribed, being received in grooves provided in the ends of the beams. It will be readily understood, however, that these lugs instead of being formed on the bearings may project from the beams and cooperate with grooves provided in the arms j of the bearing-cases. The two beams 1i and o are obviously intended to supply the place of the single crossbeam or bridge r of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 as regards their action, which consists in permitting the relative displacement and mutual control of the ball-bearings p q, and thereby balancing the strain of each relatively to that of its companion.

Where ball-bearings, such as p or q, are constructed to act singly, provided each comprises more than one setof balls (there are here assumed to be two sets) in close proximity to each other, the saine effect-viz. that an approximately equal share of the strain shall be assigned to each set of ballsmay also he secured by causing the several sets to control each other through the agency of any suitable intermediate part or device equivalent in its operation to the tilting beam or lever above described. As an intermediate dovice which will prove effective in this respect in connection with the type of ball-bearings here shown the case or frame inclosing the balls may itself be utilized, each case being internally furnished with two projections c c, whose rounded convex. surfaces shall bear upon the two ball-race rings b b on both sides in the same manner as do the ends of the double-armed tilting lever outside the ballbearing cases in the arrangement first described. Assuming the bearing-ease p or q to be made capable of tilting or swinging bodily on the fulcrum afforded by the top lug l or 2, the upper part of such case may, in

fact, be said to supply the place of a balancing lever or beam of the kind indicated, as the same strain-compensating effects as above described will by such an arrangement be secured for both ball-races Z) b, for it is plain that the mobility of a bearingcase thus utilized as a substitute for the tilting cross-beam will in no way be affected by those of its accessory parts, which are placed loosely around the shaft or axle.

What I claim is* l. The combination, with two antifrictionbearings, and a single shaft running in the said bearings; of means for supporting the load arranged parallel with the said shaft and pivotally supported by the said bearings, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with two antifrictionbearings, and a single shaft running in the said bearings; of two cross-beams for snpporting the load, said eross-beams being arranged parallel with the said shaft and one on each side thereof and being pivotally supported by the said bearings, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with two antifrietionbearings, each comprising two ball-races, two sets of balls, and a casing having projections which are pivotally supported by the said ball-races; of a single shaft running in the said bearings; and means for supporting the load arranged parallel wit l1 the said shaft and pivotally supported by the casings of the said bearings, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST RlElE. lVitnesses:

HENRY IIAsrnn, VOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

